News for Nonprofits

Service opportunities abound for 2011 holidays

If your organization would like to help others who are less fortunate this holiday season, here are some suggestions from Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawaii. There are many ways to help:

  • As part of a collection drive, hold a “Holiday Olympics.” Play games like Pictionary or charades, and give extra points for bringing in items for the drive, such as canned foods and toys.
  • Hold an office auction for items employees want – perhaps an afternoon off? – and let them bid with items for the drive.
  • Ask employees to bring canned foods or toys as admittance to your holiday party or hold a raffle in which tickets are purchased with items for the drive.
  • Hold a holiday bake sale or cookie fundraiser with proceeds going to a community organization.
  • Volunteer at an organization for which you also did a drive. This helps employees know how their donations are being used and gives them a better understanding of the needs of the community.

The following are a few community organizations, suggested by Entreprenuers Foundation, that could use your help during the holidays:

> Habitat for Humanity (Honolulu):  Volunteer as a gift wrapper Dec. 9-24 at Ward Center, Ward Gateway or Windward Mall. All proceeds from gift wrapping will go to support Habitat’s mission to build simple, decent homes for those in need on Oahu. Visit www.honoluluhabitat.org for a link to available shifts, and call (808) 538-7070 or email info@honoluluhabitat.org to sign up. Groups are welcome.

> Hawaii Foodbank:  The Hawaii Foodbank now feeds 183,500 people statewide – more than 14 percent of the population – but it has only a ten-day supply of food in its warehouse. Consider conducting a food or fund drive at your company. Instructions and forms may be downloaded at www.hawaiifoodbank.org. Or gather a group of volunteers to help sort food donations. For more information on volunteering, please call (808) 836-3600 ext. 239 or email volunteer@hawaiifoodbank.org. Other ways to help include donating to the Check-Out Hunger program at local grocery stores from now through Jan. 10 and purchasing a pre-filled bag of groceries for $10 in the Safeway Help Us End Hunger program from now through Dec. 24.  Details can be found at www.hawaiifoodbank.org.

> Institute for Human Services:  This emergency homeless shelter seeks groups of volunteers to prepare and serve meals to shelter guests as well as to sort donations. You can also conduct a drive to collect food, toiletries, towels and clothing for the shelter. Find the link to the IHS wishlist at www.ihshawaii.org.

> Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi:  Work in a taro patch in Kane‘ohe – from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 10 or Saturday, Jan. 14 – with other community volunteers for Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi, which is dedicated to the perpetuation of the cultural and spiritual practices of the native Hawaiian people.  Visit www.kakoooiwi.org and contact kyrie@kakoooiwi.org to volunteer.

> Lokahi:  Adopt a struggling family for the holidays by providing a meal and a gift for each member of the family. Lokahi works with more than 200 nonprofit and social service agencies, shelters, group homes and hospitals to identify families and individuals needing help. When you choose to adopt one or more of these families, you'll receive the family members' first names, ages, special needs and Christmas wishes with a brief description of the challenges they are facing and guidelines on how you can help. You can also participate in the Dec. 11 Honolulu Marathon 10K Race Walk and your entire entry fee will be donated to the Lokahi Giving Project, or attend the Honolulu Gift Fair on Dec. 16-18, pull a wish from the Lokahi Giving Tree, and purchase a gift for a child, teen, or senior in need. See www.lokahigivingproject.com for more information.

> Make-A-Wish Foundation:  Write a letter to support a local keiki’s campaign to deliver 5,000 letters to Macy’s on Dec. 9 as part of their “Believe” campaign. Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each letter received. Reece, a Kailua child who had a brain tumor and received a trip to Disney World from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, wants to help fund wishes for other kids in Hawaii with his letter-writing campaign. Send your letters to: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hawaii, Attn: Reece, P.O. Box 1877, Honolulu, HI 96805. For more information, visit www.makeawishhawaii.org.

> Surfrider Foundation:  Participate in the Sunset Beach Cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 10. Lunch and prizes will be sponsored by Scott Hawaii and San Lorenzo Bikinis. The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches. The Oahu chapter conducts beach cleanups throughout the year. Visit http://ww2.surfrider.org/oahu for more information.

> Toys for Tots: The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects toys from now until Christmas and distributes them to needy children in Hawaii. All donations collected in Hawaii stay in Hawaii. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Toys‘R’Us or other locations listed at http://kaneohe-bay-hi.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/donate-toys.asp.